Power system



June 1o, 1941. D, W, MILLER '2,245,001

POWER SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2l, 193

D. W. Myne INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1941 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE POWER SYSTEM Denver W. Miller, Medoc Point, Oreg. Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,750

(Cl. (S-1) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to power systems, and has among its objects and advantages the provision or an improved steam generator.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a power system in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a boiler unit I0, heat exchangers I2 and I4 and a condenser unit I6. Boiler unit I0 comprises an inner shell I3 and an outer shell 20 spaced therefrom to provide a space 22 which extends completely about the shell I8. Air from the space 22 may be evacuated for insulation purposes.

Heat exchanger I2 includes an inner shell 24 and an :outer shell 26 spaced therefrom to provide a space 28 extending about the shell 24. Shell 26 is connected with the shell 28 in such manner as to provide a communicating port 30. Air is also evacuated from the space 28 in the same manner as the space 22. Similarly, exchanger I4 includes an inner shell 32 and an outer shell 34 spaced therefrom to provide a space 36 which is also evacuated of air. Shell 34 is connected with the shell 26, and I provide a communicating port 38 between the shells. Condenser I6 includes an inner shell 40 and an outer shell 42 spaced therefrom to provide a space 44 from which the air is evacuated. Inner shell 32 of the exchanger I4 communicates with a conduit 46 which extends into the inner shell 40 and is connected with a coil 48, the upper end of which includes a downwardly extending tube 50 terminating short of the bottom of the shell 40.

Shell 20 is provided with a cap 52, while the shell 34 is provided with a similar cap 54. Shell 42 is also provided with caps 56 and 53. In evacuating air from the spaces 22, 28 and 36, these spaces may rst be lled with a fluid, which fluid may be poured in through removal of the cap 52. Cap 54 may Ithen be removed, with the cap 52 replaced, and a pump connected with the mount for the cap 54 for pumping the fluid from the system. In lling the system with liquid, all the air is evacuated so that a good vacuum is secured when the liquid is pumped out. Caps 56 and 58 associated with the shell 42 permit the condenser unit I6 to have the air in the space 44 evacuated in the same manner.

Inside the shell I8 I mount a steam engine 60 which may be mounted on suitable supports 62. The engine is provided with a steam inlet pipe 64 having its upper end extending into a steam dome 66. The exhaust pipe 68 of the engine is connected with a header 'I0 which is connected with an outlet header 'I2 through the medium of a large number of pipes 14 through which exhaust steam passes.

Inside the shell I8 I mount a heater 16 which may be of the electric type, in which event the heating elements I8 may be enclosed in a suitable housing 36 and connected with wiring extending exterior-ly of the casings I8 and, 20 through a suitable conduit 82. Heater 'I6 is mounted on brackets 84, and the heater is submerged in the boiler unit, the level oi which water lies beneath the engine 60, as indicated by the line |30 which illustrates the water level in the boiler.

In employing a heater of the electric type, the heater permits the boiler unit to be completely surrounded by an insulating wall structure. Such a system is devoid oi frequent direct communication with the atmosphere, as is true of boilers employing fire boxes for steam generating purposes. In the instant case the engine and the heater are completely enclosed inside the boiler and are shielded from the atmosphere, with the heating unit lying in the water in the boiler and the engine located above the water level in the boiler. Such a closed system generates steam in an emcient manner. In locating the engine in the steam space inside the boiler, the engine is heated so that the exhaust steam delivered to the pipes i4 and the headers 'l0 and 'I2 will be of relatively high temperature. Water is fed back to the boiler at its bottom and about the headers and pipes so that the exhaust steam is circulated through the headers and pipes surrounded by incoming water.

Outlet header 12 communicates with the shell 24 through the medium of a conduit 86, and the shell I6 has communication with a header 88 inside the shell 24 through the medium of a conduit 90. Shell 24 includes a second header 92 having communication with the header 88 through the medium of a large number of tubes 94. Communication is established between the inner shell 24 and the inner shell 32 through the medium of a conduit 96, and the header 92 is in communication with a header 98 in the shell 32 through the medium of a conduit |00. Header 96 is in communication with a second header I62 in the shell 32 by reason of a plurality of tubes |04.

Pipe 46 communicates with the inner shell 32, while the header |02 is provided with a pipe I06 which extends into the inner shell 40 in the condenser lIii and is provided with a downwardly extending reach |08. Inside the coil 48 I position a cooling coil connected with pipes ||2 and H4 to control the circulation of a cooling iiuid through the coil. Inlet pipe ||2 may be provided with a Valve H6.

The piston rod H8 and the valve rod |20 extend through stuffing boxes |22. In the pipe |06 I interpose a power operated pump |24, which may be operated through any suitable source of power (not shown),

Exhaust steam from the engine 6D is delivered to the header 'l0 and flows through the pipes '|4 and into the header 12 to be delivered to the shell 24 through the medium of the conduit 86. Any condensate forming in the shell 24 ows into the shell 32, and the remaining steam is further condensed as it moves to and into the shell 32. Condensate from the shell 32 iiows through the coil 48 and any remaining steam reaching the coilV is changed to condensate. Pump |24 operates. to remove the water from the shell l0 of the condenser I6 and deliver it to the header H12 for circulation through the tubes |64 and the header l98. From the header 93 the water is delivered tothe header 92 for circulation through `the tubes 94 and the header 88, after which the Water is delivered to the shell I8 of the boiler unit lll. Thus the water in its passage from the condenser unit I6 to the boiler unit iilis employed as an aid in condensing steam. Similarly, the Water as it nears the boiler unit is additionally heated. All the units are effectively insulated because Vof the Vacuum spaces surrounding the units so that the parts are ei'fectively insulated from atmospheric conditions.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may,

Y. by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a power system, a boiler unit having an f through all the heat exchangers, and means for engine located in the steam space of the boiler, a heat exchanger in said boiler near its bottom normally submerged in the water in the boiler, electric heating means for the Water located above said heat exchanger and normally submerged in the water in the boiler, a plurality of heat exchangers operatively connected withsaid rst heat exchanger, a condenser connected with one of said plurality of heat exchangers, means for directing exhaust steam from the engine into said rst heat exchanger for subsequent passage through all the heat exchangers, and means for moving condensate from the condenser back to the boiler in heat transfer relation with steam and condensate moving through the heat exchangers, With the condensate returned to the boiler entering -therein at its bottom and adjacent said first heat exchanger.

2. In a power system, a boiler unit having an engine located in the steam space of the boiler, a heat exchanger in said boiler near its bottom normally submerged in the Water in the boiler, electric heating means for the water located above said heat exchanger and normally submerged in the Water in the boiler, a plurality of heat exchangers .operatively connected with said rst heat exchanger, a condenser connected with one of said plurality of heat exchangers, means for -directing exhaust steam from the engine into said first heat exchanger for subsequent passage moving condensate from the condenser back to the boiler in heat transfer relation with steam and condensate moving through the heat exchangers, with the condensate returned to the boiler entering therein at its bottom and adjacent said rst heat exchanger, said boiler unit and said plurality of heat exchangers being surrounded by a communicating vacuum space and said condenser being surrounded by a vacuum space. A,

DENVER W. MILLER. 

